Lithomex is a type of pre-mix mortar used in stone repairs. Based on natural hydraulic lime, lithomex comes in custom colours.
Stonemasons buy lithomex in 25kg bags or 4kg tubs. A stone mason will use this type of mortar as an alternative to concrete mortar.
So unlike concrete, lithomex is not damaging to soft stone and is flexible and porous. It therefore allows the building work to breathe.
Custom Colours
Being a flexible and versatile medium, the mortar mix comes in a variety of natural colours. This is great for seamless stone repairs.
Manufacturers will use natural mineral pigments to create the right colour for your stonework. If you have not seen the colour in nature, the chances are that you will not find manufacturers can make the colour for their lithomex mix.
Hence you will not be seeing bright pink or any other unnatural colour within walls in Scotland anytime soon.
Protecting Lithomex Mortar
Right before any work commences, we check the entirety of your outdoor structure. We ensure all repairs will be successful and protected.
Whilst the mortar is being applied and cured, we use protection measures. This ensures your new mortar will dry evenly and safely.
We check:
- Ground drainage
- Gutters
- Roof Membranes
- Detailing
The idea is to allow the moisture to pass through the mortar so the wall dries quicker and safer. However, we avoid rapid drying by ensuring the new mortar is not in direct sun or heating, wind, in freezing temperatures, or exposed to rainfall.
For Professional masons only
Manufacturers make this pre-mix mortar from lime. It therefore carries a hazardous material warning.
Before lithomex sets, it can be highly dangerous to health.
The main issues with this unset mortar mix are:
- Can cause skin burns and eye damage when humid or wet
- May cause cancer
- Causes damage to lungs through repeated exposure (inhalation)
Therefore, it is vitally important that only professional stonemasons are able to use lithomex for stone repairs. Like James Allan Stonemasons (Edinburgh)’s staff, who have been highly trained over many years.
Why Choose Us:
- We have over 30 years hands-on experience as stonemasons
- We have a full range of expert stonemasonry and sandstone restoration skills
- We only use lime mortar for re-pointing, sandstone repairs and building work
- We choose our team based on the quality of their work and quality of their character
- Flexible Quoting: we come at a time that suits you, even on the same day if required
Stone Repairs
Do your stones’ need repairing due to weathering and old age? If so, we can bring them back to new again. As James Allan Stonemasons (Edinburgh), we can offer you two effective methods for repairing your stones, which are part Indenting and lithomex.
Lime Pointing
Properly executed Lime Repointing of masonry using lime mortars is critical to the long term health of stone structures. It is strongly advised that repointing is carried out using proper lime mortars & correct technique and preparation.
Church Stone Repairs
Repairs to churches call on every type of stonemasonry skill imaginable, including stone replacement, stone restoration, stone carving and lime pointing. We are able to carry out the stonemasonry restoration of our city’s churches.